Minneapolis put up faster practise than had Merry’s team, and the spectators began to feel that the difference in the two nines was so marked that the college men had little show.
At last the hour for the game arrived, and the umpire walked onto the diamond. Frank’s team was sent to bat first.
“Start it right off, Jack,” advised Frank, as Ready picked out a bat. “A good start means a lot.”
For once in his life, at least, Ready was not smiling when he advanced to the plate. The line-up of the teams was as follows:
| Merries. | Minneapolis. |
| Ready, 3d b. | Bryant, lf. |
| Carson, ss. | Jones, c. |
| Hodge, c. | Stebson, 3d b. |
| Gamp, cf. | Hardy, rf. |
| Browning, 1st b. | Corday, ss. |
| Swiftwing, lf. | Prince, 1st b. |
| Rattleton, 2d b. | Rafferty, cf. |
| Carter, rf. | Hicks, 2d b. |
| Merriwell, p. | Potter, p. |
Ready waited well, but Potter started out with good control, and he forced Jack to swing at last. The ball was hit, but it popped up into the air, and the short-stop gathered it in.
Carson walked out, met the first one “on the nose,” and drove it like a bullet into the hands of Potter. The pitcher muffed the ball, but picked it up in time to throw Berlin out at first.
“Well, well, well!” cried Prince. “How easy they are!”
Both men had hit the ball, however, and Frank felt encouraged.